The Braille Examiner
Fall 2006
A Publication of the National Federation of the Blind of Illinois
Editor: Connie J. Davis
Co-Editor: Deborah Kent Stein
President: Lois Montgomery
Contact Information
President: Lois Montgomery, (309) 762-NFBI (6324), Lmm3527@aol.com.
Editor: Connie Davis, (773) 338-6922, condav850@yahoo.com.
Co-Editor: Deborah Kent Stein, (773) 631-1093, dkent5817@worldnet.att.net.
Print & Braille Duplication: Carmen Dennis, (773) 583-0899, carmen88@comcast.net.
Tape duplication & Distribution: Pittman Enterprises & Associates, pittman.e.a@cometlink.com, (773) 779-1856, fax (773) 779-2763, Debbie Pittman
Proofreaders: Lois Montgomery, Cathy Randall & Carmen Dennis
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
Lois Montgomery
September 2006
Hello to all!
The 2006 National Convention is now a warm memory for those of us who attended. Illinois was well represented this year. We had two winners of NFB National Scholarships, Ronza Othman and Corb O'Connor. In addition, David Wright won a NASA internship sponsored by the Jernigan Institute. We had several first-timers in attendance who have since become active in the NFBI.
Our efforts and hard work have paid off! I am happy to report that HR2872 and S2321 -- the Louis Braille Commemorative Coin Bill-has been signed into law by the president. This bill calls for the creation of a Louis Braille coin in observance of the 200th anniversary of Braille's birth in 2009. This legislation will take a long step toward promoting Braille literacy for blind people. If you haven't yet contacted your senators and representatives to thank them for their support, I encourage you to please do so.
I continue to enjoy demonstrating the K-NFB Reader. To promote this remarkable piece of technology I have traveled to many parts of the state. Recently I showed the Reader to a group of supervisors with the Department of Human Services (DHS). I have also made presentations at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, ISVI in Jacksonville, and the James R. Thompson Center in Chicago.
Two members of the NFBI have completed training at our centers and two more are currently enrolled. I have been working with Rehabilitation Services in Illinois to make this possible. In August I had the opportunity to tour the Louisiana Center for the Blind in Ruston, and was very impressed with the facility and instructors.
Our pilot program for summer internships was a tremendous success. This program enabled blind high school and college students to gain much-needed work experience. A. J. Scheiner and R. J. McLaughlin completed their internships, each in his chosen field. Nicci Mariconi, a graduate student, also participated in a work/study program with the help of the NFBI.
The NFBI board met at our convention hotel site, the Ramada Plaza, on September 16th. The board ratified the IABS Constitution by unanimous vote. Discussion focused on the upcoming state convention. Elections will be held for all executive offices and two board positions. Cathy Randall, second vice president, announced that she would not seek re-election after serving on the board for twenty years. Board member Bill Reif will step down. Two board seats for a two-year term and one seat for a one-year term will be open.
We had a great turnout this year for Oktoberfest. We all extend a special thank-you to the Changs for hosting this fundraising event.
Plans are moving forward for the 2006 NFBI state convention, which is fast approaching. This convention promises to be jam-packed with dynamic speakers and informative seminars. We will hear from graduates of our NFB training centers, and from parent advocate Carrie Gilmer and her son Jordan. In addition to her speech during our general session, Carrie will lead a workshop on the IEP process for parents and interested Federationists. The newly formed Illinois Association of Blind Students (IABS) will host a breakfast on Saturday morning. Sunday morning will again feature a Significant Others breakfast, an event that was extremely popular last year. The annual banquet, Midnight Madness Auction, and so much more will round out the weekend.
Mark your calendar for November 10-12 for a weekend to renew your dedication of energy, time, and resources toward "Comradery, Collaboration, & Commitment." Make your reservation now by calling the Ramada Plaza, 5615 N. Cumberland, Chicago, phone 773-693-5800. Make certain you mention the NFBI Convention to receive the discounted room rate of $70 per night plus tax. If you have any ideas or suggestions, or if you would like to help in any way, PLEASE let me know. There is something each of us can contribute to make this a successful convention. The deadline for assistance to attend convention through the James Chappell Award is October 15th. For more information, contact your chapter president or me, or go to our website, www.nfbofillinois.org.
It is important that we work together to continue building the affiliate and strengthening the movement in Illinois.
I am here to serve you. Please feel free to contact me with any questions, suggestions, concerns, or comments at:
E-mail: Lmm3527@aol.comPhone: (309)762-NFBI (6324)
Mail: 3527-12th Avenue Moline, IL 61265
REMEMBERING THE ELF:
In Memoriam for Bryan Turner
By Debbie Kent Stein
Illinois Federationists were deeply saddened by the death of Bryan Turner, president of the Kankakee Heartland Chapter, on July 21, 2006. Bryan died of diabetic complications after the failure of his transplanted kidney and pancreas.
Bryan grew up in Limestone Township, Illinois, a small town outside Kankakee. In 1997 he lost his sight due to diabetic retinopathy. He obtained his beloved guide dog Madison from Leader Dogs in 2002. Bryan learned about the NFB while he was enrolled in the blindness-skills training program at ICRE-Wood, and attended his first state convention in 2003. Almost overnight he became a dedicated Federationist. He pitched in to reorganize the Kankakee Heartland Chapter, and served as its president until his death.
As chapter president Bryan seized every chance to educate the community about blindness and the NFB. In the fall of 2004 he undertook a thirty-nine-mile "Walk for Vision" across Kankakee County to show the public the capabilities of blind people. On the walk he wore a hat adorned with the picture of an elf. "The Elf" was Bryan's nickname, reflecting his sparkle and energy.
We will remember Bryan for his enthusiasm, his hard work, and his devotion to Federation goals. We will miss The Elf in Illinois.
CHAPTER NEWS
NEWS FROM THE BLACKHAWK CHAPTER
BY Lois Montgomery
The NFBI Blackhawk Chapter holds its monthly meetings the second Saturday of each month. We meet at 1:30 p.m. at the South Moline Township Center located at 637 -17th Avenue in East Moline. Transportation is provided for those who need it.
One recent meeting featured Bob Gardner speaking on his experiences at BLIND, Inc., our training center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. At another meeting our featured presentation came from Rhonda Erickson and Michelle Budde, counselor and instructor at the local ORS office.
Five Blackhawk Chapter members attended the NFB National Convention in Dallas.
A swim party in July and picnic in August were held in place of our regular summer chapter meetings.
Once again the chapter participated in the "Birdies for Charity" fundraiser held each summer in conjunction with the John Deere Golf Tournament. This year's event was held in mid-July, with proceeds helping assist chapter members to attend conventions and seminars. Community Day (through Younkers) is now in progress as another fundraiser for the chapter. Not only do these events raise funds for the chapter; they also provide our members with an opportunity to educate the public about blindness-related issues and to share the NFB philosophy.
Elections will be held at our October meeting. All offices are up for election. December 16th is the date set for our chapter Christmas party, to be held at Christ United Methodist Church in East Moline. The bell choir is scheduled to perform as entertainment this year.
"Hawk Talk" is our chapter newsletter, published monthly. It is circulated via the NFB IL-Talk listserv as well as the NFBI website. It can also be sent by E-mail, or by snail mail in large print or Braille to those who request it.
We are the blind speaking for the blind and are changing what it means to be blind in the Quad-Cities and outlying areas.
Chicago Chapter
By Debbie Kent Stein
After fire broke out on a Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) train this past summer, a number of Chicago Chapter members raised questions about the transit system's safety procedures. In response, Steve Hastalis gave an informative presentation about safety features on the CTA at our August meeting. Steve is a long-time CTA employee and a lifelong train buff, so he was the ideal person to speak on this critical topic.
Volunteerism was the subject of our September program. Patti Chang described her volunteer work at the Pui Tak Center in Chinatown, preparing immigrants to take the citizenship exam. Joe Monti talked about his years of volunteer work with his church. Pam Gillmore described her volunteer work at the Chicago Talking Book Center, which ultimately developed into a paying job. All three speakers emphasized that there are countless ways for us to contribute to the community. By getting involved we also educate others about the capabilities of blind people.
At our board meeting in June, the board and members at large brainstormed about future chapter fundraisers and programs. The deluge of ideas was almost overwhelming. After pondering the possibilities through the summer, the chapter decided to focus on a few goals. We will precede our monthly meetings with activities related to Braille and mobility. We will of course continue to work for full access to electronic voting machines, under the guidance and expertise of Steve Handschu. As a new spring fundraiser the chapter plans to hold a games night.
Our traditional fall candy drive will soon be underway, and Fundraising Committee Chairman Ken Staley is busy arranging for our annual sale of tickets to a Chicago Bulls game. More than forty Federationists and friends gathered at the home of Patti and Francisco Chang on September 23 for Oktoberfest, a combined state and chapter fundraising extravaganza.
Everyone enjoyed the food, music, and good company.
On October 14 the Chicago Chapter will host its twice-yearly Membership Tea. Please join us at the Exchequer Pub and Restaurant, 226 S. Wabash, Chicago, at 11:30 A.M. Whether you're a seasoned member or a curious first-timer, please come for food, fellowship, and an introduction to Braille reading and writing. We'll look forward to seeing you.
Ferris Wheel Chapter
By Cathy Randall
Our NFBI Ferris Wheel Chapter has speakers scheduled for the next several meetings. We also hope to have two "Meet the Blind Month" leafleting outreach distribution opportunities during October. We will hold elections in September, and are making arrangements to take the train to state convention in November. We have already made two early "Meet the Blind Month" presentations to local Lions Clubs.
Instead of our August meeting we substituted a field trip to the Dana Thomas House in Springfield. We were treated to an in-depth two-hour tour and had plenty of time to examine the new model of the house featured in the last Braille Examiner. Our guide, Mike Haney, gave detailed explanations of the design philosophy of architect Frank Lloyd Wright. He made the house come alive for us through his descriptions of Wright-designed art-glass, furniture, and textiles.
Speakers from West-Central Illinois Mass-transit and the Jacksonville Area Noon Lions Club have been scheduled for our September and October meetings. We already have five chapter members coming to State Convention.
FOUR RIVERS NOTES
By Annette Grove
Four Rivers Chapter held a very successful garage sale at the end of May, netting over $250. We spent the summer months picnicking and attending local festivals, getting to know each other and spreading the word about our work to those around us. Our next meeting is scheduled for October 21st at noon at the home of President Annette Grove. We will hold our annual "white elephant" auction at that time as well. All Federationists and friends are cordially invited to join us, so long as you bring an elephant along: white, pink or otherwise. Annette's home is located at 4 Shady Lane in Belleville. Please call her at 314-304-9645 for directions and other details.
KANKAKEE HEARTLAND UPDATE
An Introduction
By Michael Doris
My name is Michael Doris, and I currently serve as acting president of the Kankakee Heartland Chapter of the NFBI.
I have only been blind for a short time. I'm a diabetic, and that is the reason for my vision loss.
I became involved with the NFB after I heard an interview with Bryan Turner on the radio. I knew right away that this was an organization I needed and could benefit from. Bryan really inspired me. He had a lot of great ideas. He wanted to bring younger people into the Kankakee Chapter.
I want to carry on Bryan's plans and see the chapter expand. We need to reach people in government to remove barriers and make life better for all of us.
I'm very new to the Federation and I know I have a lot to learn yet. I'm looking forward to meeting all of you at the state convention in Chicago.
Chapter News
We held our most recent meeting on October 7 at 10:00 a.m. in the Bourbonnais Public Library. Kandie Power shared her experience of learning to use a Trekker, a global satellite-positioning device adapted for blind people. Plans were finalized for the upcoming state convention. Our Christmas luncheon will be held at Capriotti's Restaurant on December 2. Further details will be forthcoming.
GREETINGS FROM IABS
By Ronza Othman and Lori Brown
We are pleased to announce that the Illinois Association of Blind Students (IABS) is up and running. The purpose of IABS is to promote educational excellence for the blind of Illinois and the nation. We will serve our members by addressing issues relevant to education such as accessible textbooks; rehabilitation services, programs, and training; and equality in school admission policies.
On August 27, 2006, we held our first General Business meeting. Members had the choice of participating by teleconference or in person. At the meeting we adopted a constitution and elected officers. The Board of the National Federation of the Blind of Illinois (NFBI) ratified the constitution at the September board meeting. The National Association of Blind Students (NABS) accepted IABS as a state chapter, as well.
Ronza Othman was elected as our President. She has earned Bachelors degrees in Philosophy and Biology from Saint Xavier University and a Masters degree in Public Services management from DePaul University. Ronza is completing her final semester of law school at DePaul University College of Law. Ronza serves as a board member for the Chicago Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Illinois. She is currently clerking for the Illinois Attorney General's Disability Rights Bureau. Ronza received an NFB National Scholarship in 2006 as well as NFBI Scholarships in 2004 and 2005.
David Wright was elected as our First Vice-President. David is a sophomore at the University of Illinois at Chicago, majoring in Pre-Med. He is currently receiving training from the Louisiana Center for the Blind. David completed internships with NASA the past two summers. He also received a scholarship from the National Federation of the Blind of Illinois in 2005.
Lori Brown was elected as our Second Vice-President. Lori is a sophomore at Spoon River College and will earn her Associates degree this December. She plans to enroll at Western Illinois University in 2007, where she intends to earn her degree in Secondary Education and History. Lori hopes to attend BLIND, Inc. in the spring. She has received an NFB National Scholarship in 2005 and NFBI Scholarships in 2004 and 2006.
We elected Jennifer Justice to the position of Secretary. Jennifer earned a Masters degree in Fine Art from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2005 and a Bachelors of Fine Art in 2001 from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Her work was recently on view at the Chicago Cultural Center in conjunction with the Bodies of Work Disability Arts Festival. She works as an artist and web developer and plans to obtain a Ph.D. in Art Education or Museum Studies. Jennifer was an NFB National Scholarship winner in 2003.
David Harlow was elected as our Treasurer. David is currently attending Northpark Theological Seminary, where he is earning a Masters in Divinity. David plans to work as a chaplain at a hospital or with sick and elderly individuals. He received NFBI scholarships in 2004 and 2006.
We elected Bruce Paul as a board member. Bruce earned a Ph.D in Physics from Florida State University. He is currently employed as an actuary. Bruce has served on the board of the Chicago Chapter of the NFBI and on the NFBI Scholarship Committee. Bruce has also previously earned an NFBI Scholarship himself. He will serve as a liaison between IABS and the NFBI Board.
Christella Garcia was also elected as an IABS Board member. Chris is currently a sophomore at DePaul University, majoring in psychology. She plans to earn a Masters degree in educational psychology from Louisiana Tech and to work as a travel instructor. Chris earned an NFB National Scholarship in 2005. She holds the position of Vice President for the NFB's Sports and Recreation Division. She also serves as a National Association of Blind Students (NABS) Board Member. Chris will act as a liaison between the IABS and NABS Boards.
We have been very busy planning events and programs for the coming months. We are excited to take part in this year's State Convention in Chicago. The IABS outing to "Wicked, The Musical" will kick off the festivities on Thursday, November 9th. IABS will host a workshop concerning issues relevant to students on Friday afternoon. We are sponsoring the hospitality Friday night with a fundraiser called IABS Idol. Anyone can participate in this activity. The cost is $5.00 per person per performance and you will be able to show everyone in the affiliate your special talents. We are also hosting the IABS breakfast on Saturday morning, where we will conduct a general business meeting. The cost of breakfast is $10. IABS is also hosting the Student Luncheon, where guests can meet the NFBI Scholarship Class of 2006 and hear the NABS Address. The cost of the Student Luncheon is $15. Both the IABS Breakfast and Student Luncheon are open to anyone interested in attending.
IABS will hold a 50-50 raffle as a fundraiser. The owner of the ticket that gets drawn Sunday morning will receive half the total earned through the raffle. In order to win, the ticket-holder must be present at the raffle. IABS will also be selling shot glasses, also known as "stylus holders" at the convention. Please ask a board member for more information about these terrific collectibles.
We are looking forward to a wonderful convention and future with the NFBI. We hope to serve the students of Illinois and the members of the National Federation of the Blind.
IMAGINE
By LeAnne Mayne
"We have dreamed; we have planned; we have built," said Imagination Fund Chairman Kevan Worley at the 2006 National Convention. "Now we devote ourselves to a future full of imagination. Imagine! I wonder if our founders and those of the following generations had any inkling, any idea at all of the kind of future they began building for the blind of today. I know they were dreamers, workers, builders; but seriously, how proud they would be of all of us here today, building on the legacy of the founders, the builders, the dreamers, the doers, the original imaginators of our National Federation of the Blind. How proud the pioneers would be of the work we are doing, the money we are raising to fund the work, the consciousness we are raising, the lives we are changing, the opportunities we are creating through the work of the National Federation of the Blind."
I have chosen to work with the Imagination Fund to raise even more money for our organization. I first joined the NFB of Illinois in 1971, and I am very proud to be part of our movement to change what it means to be blind. We of the Imagination Fund ask other members not to give of themselves but to go out and ask business contacts, friends and family to help support what we believe in.
Help us build a better future for blind persons so we can show our independence to the world. I believe Illinois can do so much more. There are many people in our affiliate who give so much and keep pushing forward.
I am proud to stand with you, my Federation family. Along with the Jernigan Institute we will do great things in the future. Please see me at state convention with ten (10) names of people who could be approached for a donation. Take ten (10) brochures with you and make your own contacts, or make a donation to The Imagination Fund. I'll have a couple of incentives to persuade you to join in with the Imagination Fund.
BEHIND THE SCENES AT NASA:
My EXCEL Internship at Goddard Space Center
by David Wright
When most people hear mention of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), thoughts of space flight, astronauts, and space shuttles usually come to mind. Although the space program is a primary function of NASA, it is not NASA'S sole purpose. Within the vast network of NASA exist programs which represent all of the sciences. Each of these programs has a mission to conduct research and discover new frontiers of knowledge, which potentially may benefit society as a whole.
As an incoming sophomore attending the University of Illinois at Chicago, I was given an opportunity to participate in one of NASA'S internship programs. My internship experience began when I departed for Baltimore, Maryland on the 21st of May. As a precursor to my actual NASA internship, I spent a week in Baltimore at the Jernigan Institute, a national research and training center operated by the National Federation of the Blind.
During my week at the institute I spent time getting to know the other participants in the NASA EXCEL Internship program. In addition to socializing with other interns I had the privilege of attending a variety of seminars led by successful blind individuals working in the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. From these speakers I learned methods of achieving success as a blind person in the STEM careers.
On Saturday, May 27, two other interns and I took a charter bus to Fraternity Row, where I would reside in one of sixteen fraternity houses. Fraternity Row is a horseshoe-shaped court lined with three-story fraternity houses, located just outside the campus of the University of Maryland.
I worked at Goddard Space Flight Center, which was about five miles from my residence. A bus transported all of the interns in the morning and picked us up at 5:00 PM. I served as a student intern at the NASA Center for Computational Sciences, NCOS. Although the nomenclature may be confusing, the center's primary function is defined by its title. This location has been designated as a center for data storage as well as computational resources. In other words, scientists use this location to store data from their research projects as well as for complex mathematical calculations.
Since my major areas of study in school are currently math and computer science, I was placed in this particular location in order to strengthen my skills. Throughout the summer, I had the privilege of working on a number of projects. These projects included gaining experience with new operating systems such as Linux and Macintosh, replacing network hard-drives, and learning to read and parse sys-logs. All of these skills will be invaluable to me as I continue my education.
One of my first projects as an NCCS intern was to discover, or create if necessary, an accessible interface to Secur ID. Secur ID is an authentication protocol used to log on to a number of NASA networks. For me as a blind student, this particular method of authentication is inaccessible. It utilizes a small LCD screen, which displays a series of six numbers that alternate every minute. These numbers serve as a step in the dual factor authentication protocol during the login process. Since I'm unable to read these numbers, I had to seek a way to adapt this method to be more conducive for my use.
Although I made many attempts to contact the security company responsible for the development with this enterprise security protocol, I was unable to resolve the original problem. I did discover that this company at one point manufactured a variant of the LCD token called the Spoken Token, which essentially read the digits being displayed. Unfortunately I was unable to delve through the red tape to get an actual price quote for the item. Certain agents told me that the item was no longer being made, while others claimed that it could still be made upon request. We gave the company a clear message that it will have to take accessibility issues seriously if it wants to keep NASA as a customer.
As an alternative to working on the Secur ID project, I also learned some PERL scripting. Designed in 1987 by Larry Wall, PERL is a highly portable and stable programming language used in public and private sectors for mission critical projects. Practical extraction and report language, or PERL, is also commonly used to program web applications. I tried to learn as much about PERL as I could in the time that I had in order to build upon my knowledge base.
MEET A FELLOW FEDERATIONIST: MARY LOU GRUNWALD
By Connie J. Davis
Long-time Federationist Mary Lou Grunwald, née Winter, was born in Chicago. Like many of us in this organization she was born blind. Her blindness was caused by congenital cataracts and damage to the optic nerve. Removing the cataracts was possible; repairing the optic nerve was not.
Although Mary was placed in a sight-saving room in grade school and a resource room in high school, she was not provided with reasonable accommodations. She had no large print, no magnifiers, and no Braille. Back in those days there were no laws requiring school districts to provide accommodations for blind students. Somehow and with difficulty, Mary made it most of the way through school. However, as a result of her struggles, she did not graduate with her class.
When Mary's mother broke her ankle and was unable to return to work, Mary took a job at the sheltered workshop at the Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind to help support them. While she was there, she met a recreation director who asked her if she would like to help in her program with some of the special needs students. Mary agreed, but knew she would have to get her high school diploma to do so. With that goal in sight, Mary attained her diploma. She says she graduated with a cap and gown and her family in the audience.
During her three plus years at the Lighthouse, Mary attempted to organize a union for the workers. She would talk to people during her breaks and lunch hours. After her activities were discovered, Mary's job was eliminated.
It was also during this period that Mary joined the NFB. She said she was walking down the street one day when she saw three people coming toward her using long white canes. She states that they were well dressed - two young men in suits and a very nicely dressed young lady. She stopped to talk to them. She asked them about their white canes. They invited her to have coffee with them. Over coffee they told her about the NFB and encouraged her to go to a local chapter meeting. The people she met were none other than Steve Benson, Rami Rabby and Pam Klein Gillmore. Mary joined the NFB in 1972, but wasn't active at first. She says the Federation changed her life. It was also her membership in the NFB that gave her the courage to attempt to organize a union at the Lighthouse. She also says that the members of the NFB sustained her after she left her job.
After leaving the Lighthouse, Mary decided to go into training to be a vendor. She started as a manager, although upon a few occasions she has been an employee. She has managed cafeterias, dry stands, snack bars, gift shops and vending locations. She has worked in Chicago and its suburbs, as well as Springfield, Illinois. She currently runs a vending location at the Carol Stream Post Office. She has thirty-three machines, with one employee.
In 1987, Mary and husband Pete decided to embark upon a new venture. She made the decision to leave the vending program and start her own business. She and Pete opened a collectable doll and stuffed animal store called "Not for Kids Only". Due to the fact that the street, where the shop was located, was closed; business was affected. The store didn't see as much business as Mary and Pete had hoped. Unfortunately, they had to close the store and Mary went back into vending.
During her time as a vendor, Mary has been active in the NFB Merchants Division and has served as an officer. She is also active in the Business Enterprise Program for the Blind and was on the Illinois Committee of Blind Vendors for sixteen years. She has worked tirelessly for the rights and betterment of all blind vendors everywhere.
In her job as a vendor, Mary has used a talking cash register, talking calculator, and Window Eyes. She travels with a white cane and uses public transportation. She reads magazines and books in audio format. She doesn't try to use vision she doesn't have.
While at the Lighthouse, she met her future husband, Peter Grunwald. Although they knew each other many years before, she and Pete finally married in 1979. She says they got married one day and the next they were on their way to Miami for a National convention. She declares they couldn't think of a better way to spend a honeymoon!
Mary and Peter went to many NFB conventions together. They also worked together on legislation and advocacy. They traveled to Springfield, as well as to many Washington Seminars. Pete and Mary worked vigorously to advocate for all blind people through legislation and education. Their teamwork ended when Peter became critically ill with cancer. In 1995, Mary and our affiliate suffered a grave loss with his untimely passing.
In addition to her work on legislation and with the NFB Merchants' Division, Mary Grunwald has been active in building membership in the NFB. She has served as Membership Chairperson of the NFBI Chicago Chapter and done recruiting with Jacqueline Billey and Marie Cobb in other states. If given the opportunity, she would like to do more recruiting or working in something similar to NFB Corps. She would also like to travel back to Jamaica to help the blind children there, like she and Pete did years ago. She says she'd like to travel in many countries to meet other blind people. She states that if she could do just one of those things, it would make her happy.
In her spare time, Mary likes to explore her native Chicago and discover new places. She also likes to spend time with friends. She loves music and attending concerts. She enjoys many kinds of music: jazz, blues and rock. She likes to sing. Singing in choir was her favorite part of high school.
Asked what she would wish for all blind people, Mary replies, "I hope that every blind person in the world could be exposed to all of the available alternative techniques, have the training for what they want to do and the opportunity to be leaders in their society."
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